Dressed in
his baseball uniform, young Adam Svenson was looking in dismay at his father,
standing in the middle of his office at home.The child was ready to go to the single most important game for his
team, with his father, when the latter had called him into his office to have a
talk with him.Adam was almost certain
of what he was about to hear BEFORE actually entering the room.His suspicions had confirmed themselves a
few seconds ago, when his dad announced that he couldn’t go to the game with
him.

“Two weeks
ago, you said you’d come!” the youngster continued in a hurt tone.“Last week, you said it again!Why change plans now?”

“It can’t
be helped, Adam.”John Svenson was
feeling rather uneasy.He didn’t like
the accusing look he was seeing in his son’s eyes.“Something came up at the office.”

“We’ve
been planning this for a long time.Couldn’t you just tell them you were busy?”

“Now,
Adam…You know it doesn’t work that
way.”

“No, I
don’t.You’re supposed to be the boss!”

“Yes, and
that’s why I’ve got to take care of my business.”There was an annoyed edge in Svenson’s voice.Standing a few feet away, not far from the
door, Sarah Svenson was silently witnessing the altercation between her husband
and her son.This wasn’t the first time
they had collided, on exactly the same volatile subject; but this time, she
realised, it was somehow different.Looking at the hurt expression in Adam’s eyes, she could see it could
take proportions it never did before.She was growing increasingly uneasy at the way things were going.

“It’s not
fair, Dad,” Adam said to his father, with a croak in his voice.

“Life
isn’t always fair,” John Svenson replied sharply enough.It didn’t occur to him he was talking to a
nine year old kid who couldn’t care less about that kind of remark.He shook his head.“Adam, I think you can understand…”

“No, I
can’t understand!”

Adam had
never dared to interrupt his father in the past.But months of built-up frustration were now too much for him to
handle.He felt he couldn’t take any
more of this kind of treason.This was
the last straw.He was deeply
disappointed and he had every intention of telling his father.

“It’s
always like this, Dad.We plan things
together, and at the last possible minute, you cancel everything.You cancel what we’re going to do and go to
meet someone for your business, and leave for the office in town -”

“You DON’T
think about us!”The outburst surprised
Adam almost as much as his father and mother.

“Adam,”
the woman called to him from behind, with a soothing voice.“Now, you’re not being fair to your father…”

“It’s HIM
who isn’t fair!” Adam replied, much more sharply than he really meant to.“Why does he have to do this?Why can’t he come to the game?I was counting on him…I wanted so much to see you there, Dad!”

“It’s
enough, young man!”Even John Svenson’s
stern voice was not nearly enough to calm down the fuming boy who was still
staring defiantly at him.“You’ve
talked enough nonsense for one day!You’ve got to cool off and be a reasonable boy about this!”

“Stop
being so selfish!”Svenson suddenly cut
him off.He threw his arms into the
air.“I can’t BELIEVE you would react
this way about such a thing!It’s only
a game, for Heaven’s sake!A stupid,
foolish game!”

“That game
is important to ME, Dad!And I wanted
to share it with YOU!”

“Damn
it…Right now, I’ve got far more
important things to concern myself with than the trivialities of a nine year
old boy… I can’t let myself get distracted from my job because a selfish kid
thinks HIS business is more important than mine…”

Adam
stepped back, his eyes widening; his father suddenly realized that he had just
hurt the young boy’s feelings.He gave
a quick glance towards his wife and saw the disapproving look upon her
face.That was directed at him.

“Adam, I’m
sorry.I should explain…”

“Your job
is more important than me, Dad?” the child asked with a catch in his voice.

“I didn’t MEAN
it to sound that way, son -”

“But you
SAID it!That’s just what you said!”

The look
of accusation and hurt in his son’s eyes was almost too much for John Svenson
to bear.To his credit, he tried to
make amends.

It only
made things worse, as he couldn’t envision that he could be unable to simply
buy his way into the child’s heart.

“Come on,
Adam.Forget about today.I’m sorry I can’t go with you.But we still have that Sox-Blue Jays match
we’re planning to see together -”

“It’ll be
the same,” Adam replied dryly.

“I beg
your pardon?”

“It’ll be
the same, Dad.It’s ALWAYS the
same.It’s not the game.It’s got nothing to do with it.You’re NEVER there when I need you to be
there.”

“NOW
what’s the matter with you?” Svenson asked, frowning.

“You always
tell me I should keep my promises, Dad.And I do.Always.But YOU never keep YOURS...”

“Of all
the ungrateful -”Svenson became livid
with anger.He walked to his son, a
glimmer of anger in his eyes.The boy
never lowered his.“All right!We’ll do it your way, then!If you’re going to take that distasteful
attitude toward me, young man, you’ll be dealt with accordingly.You’re grounded!”

“You can’t
do that!” Adam replied forcefully.

“I can,
and I will!” his father snapped furiously.“And don’t you shout at me!You’re grounded.You won’t go to
that baseball game of yours!”

“The
others are counting on me!I’m part of
the team!”

“I don’t
care!They’ll have to do without you!”

“How can
you do this to me, on top of everything else?”

“I’m your
father, that’s how!”

“That’s
unfair!”

“Keep your
voice down!Adam, I hate doing
this…We’ll have to see about that Sox
game.If you don’t change your attitude
-”

“Sure,
keep beating on a guy when he’s down.”Adam’s voice was full of sarcasm and resentment.His father’s features became absolutely
white with fury.

“You
always say that!” Adam shouted back with anger.“No matter what I do, or what I say!I’m always a disappointment to you!But you know what, Dad?That makes two of us!”

“Adam…”
the boy heard his mother call behind him.

“I’m
disappointed in you too!” Adam continued, looking furiously at his father,
without listening to his mother’s voice.“Why can’t you be the father I want so much?Why can’t you be like EVERYBODY ELSE’s father?”

He didn’t
give his father time to answer.He spun
round and ran out of the office, flinging the door wide.He heard his father angrily calling him
back.He did not even turn back to look
at him.

“I hate
you, Dad!” he shouted over his shoulder.

The words
were harsh, he knew, but he couldn’t keep himself from uttering them.And he would not go back to his father right
now; that would have only served to show him the tears of rage and
disappointment that were filling his eyes.

He went
directly to the front door and threw it wide open; not even bothering to close
it behind him, he ran out of the house and almost bumped into a tall, bulky
man, dressed in working clothes, who caught hold of him, before he ran straight
into him.Adam stared into the
glimmering eyes of Wilson Grover, the gardener he had told his father he hated…
The man’s expression was one of curiosity, and the boy wondered if, by any
chance, he could have heard something of what had happened in the office.

He brushed
the man aside and ran all the way to the other side of the garden…

* * *

Captain Blue suddenly opened his eyes; he was
lying in the cell bunk, staring blindly at the ceiling.He couldn’t sleep at all.It wasn’t the constant snoring of his
neighbours in the other cells that kept him awake; recurring thoughts about the
events of the past day had brought up ancient, painful memories that he hadn’t
thought about for some time… They were now haunting him.That, and the fact that he couldn’t forget
the anguished face of his beautiful Symphony Angel whom he had forced to leave,
for her own safety.

The night was still young, Blue mused gloomily.He had no idea what time it could be.Ten, eleven…maybe later.He had had to leave his watch at the police counter, with all the rest
of his things.He had the feeling this
would be a very long night, until the morning came and he would be allowed to
leave this jail to see the judge.

He heard a door open, but did not move; the sheriff or one of his
deputies – assuming he had more than one – was probably coming to check on the
prisoners, he thought.No need to concern
himself with that.

He heard the steps coming down the corridor in front of the cells, until
they stopped in front of his.

Blue didn’t need to be told twice; the sheriff took him to his office
where he found his things spread on the desk.The deputy was there too, his arms folded on his chest; he was staring
at Blue with blazing eyes.Must still be angry with me about
accidentally hitting him, thought the Spectrum officer.

“If you care to take a look at your possessions,” Sheriff McNamara told
him, clearing his throat and taking his seat behind the desk.“See if it’s all there.”

Blue glanced down quickly, took his watch and put it back on his left
wrist.Then he glared at McNamara.

“What’s going on, sheriff?” he asked him
blankly.“Why let me go now?I’m quite sure it’s not out of the goodness
of your heart.”

The sheriff sighed.“Charges
have been dropped.”

“Dropped?”

“That’s what I said.Somebody
paid the damages to the restaurant, so the owner won’t press charges.”

Blue looked at the sheriff suspiciously.“Who paid?” he asked him.

“Don’t know.But he – or she –
also provided for your bail.”

“But you didn’t want to hear about bail before.”

“Paid double the amount normally asked for your kind of offence.The ticket for reckless driving and
speeding’s been paid too.”

“What about Grover?”

McNamara tilted his head to the side.“What about him?”

“Wasn’t he considering pressing charges against me?”
Blue clarified with a frown.

“He won’t do it,” the sheriff answered.“Said you obviously were angry because you thought he was after your
girl…So he decided to let go of the
charges.He’s really a nice guy.”

“My heart is bleeding, sheriff,” Blue retorted dryly.

“Will you let the guy alone?” McNamara grumbled.“I hope you won’t go after him after all the
trouble you already had?”

“I’m not looking for trouble, sheriff.And you know what?The further I
am from Will Grover, the happier I’ll be.”

“I hope you mean it.”The
sheriff tapped a piece of paper on the desk in front of Blue.“Now, if all your things are there, will you
be kind enough to sign this receipt?”

Blue checked the contents of his wallet, then put it into his pocket,
along with his keys and cash.Then, he
turned a cool stare back at the sheriff and deputy.

“I must admit, I was really tempted to let you rot in your cell,
Svenson.I don’t really care for
bullies who’d attack a crippled man.But seeing as how things were all settled for the better…”

“About the bail and the rest?That’s the other thing that puzzles me.Why not tell me who paid for this?”

“What makes you think I know who it is?”

“You say you don’t?I have a
hard time believing that!”

“Look, why are you looking a gift horse in the mouth?You’re free.So you’d better get the hell out of here before I change my mind
and throw you back in the joint.”

“Was it my fiancée?” Blue insisted.

He suspected that Symphony might not have left as he had asked her, but
could have stayed instead, and that she might have found some way to persuade
this stubborn constable to let him go.Maybe she had even called Paul, like she had said earlier.But McNamara shook his head.

“She left town just after visiting you,” he replied.“I don’t think she’s come back yet…”A cynical smile crossed his face.“…if she ever comes back.”

“Why do you say that?” asked a frowning Blue.

“Well, didn’t you have a quarrel, back there, just before she went
away?I was told you and her had a very
tumultuous… discussion.”

Blue did not deign to respond.He could see that the deputy sheriff had the same grin on his face as
his superior.What they thought wasn’t
true, and it wasn’t any of their business whether or not he and Symphony had
had a fight.Blue was just satisfied
that, apparently, his fiancée had followed his advice and gone away.

But that didn’t answer the question about WHO had paid his bail…

“May I make a call?” Blue asked, pointing to the phone.

The sheriff nodded and Blue picked up the receiver.On putting it to his ear, he frowned.There was no dialtone.

“It’s out of order,” he said to the sheriff.

McNamara tilted his head to one side and took the receiver Blue was
holding out to him.He listened for a
second and shook his head, before putting it back on its hook.

“Must be a local breakdown,” he told Blue.“We had a couple of these the last few months.Were you trying to call your girl?”

“She’s supposed to be in Vegas,” Blue said, more to himself than in
response to the sheriff’s inquiry.“I
have to call her to tell her I’m free…”

“Well, that can’t be helped,” McNamara muttered.“These breakdowns affect all the phones in
the town.Why don’t you go tell her in
person?”

“How?She took the car.”

“You could take the bus,” the deputy suggested curtly.It was the first time he had spoken since
Blue had walked in the office.The
Spectrum agent glared daggers at him.

“I can’t go off on my own to Las Vegas without telling her!” he
replied.“She’s supposed to come back
tomorrow morning.”

“It would be a real shame if you should pass one another on the road,”
McNamara laughed slightly.

“Oh, you’re a big help, sheriff!”Blue said dryly.

“I’m not here to help you,” the sheriff replied.“And frankly, I don’t much care about your
problems.We have a hotel here.Rent a room there ‘til morning if you must,
but I want you OUT of this town at that time…Girlfriend or no girlfriend.”

“In the meantime,” the deputy sheriff added, “maybe the phones will be
back on line and you will be able to call her, so she can come to pick you
up…If she still wants you, of course.”

Blue cast the man another icy look, then glanced at the sheriff.The unsympathetic way the two men were
looking at him made him feel rather uneasy.He sighed and took the pen on the desk to sign the receipt as asked by
McNamara.He put down the pen loudly.

He had just opened the door when McNamara called on him.“One last thing, Svenson.”

Blue looked back at the sheriff.“Stay out of trouble,” the lawman warned him.“If you get in another fight, I guarantee you, you won’t get out
so easy next time around.I’ll send you
back to jail and throw away the key.”

Blue didn’t answer; but he didn’t turn a hair at
the sheriff’s threat.He turned his
back on him and left, closing the door behind him.

He walked down the main office and went out into the night.Then he stopped on the steps of the station
and sighed, contemplating what he must do.

As he had told the sheriff, he couldn’t leave without calling his
friends in Las Vegas.If only to tell
Karen he was all right…Poor girl, he thought, she must be worried sick about me…He regretted not having his Spectrum
communicator with him.This was one
occasion he would not have hesitated to use it.But since Symphony had taken the car, Blue was left without
communicator, weapon or Spectrum identification.He had left it all in the glove compartment.

Well, maybe the phones would be back on line soon…In the meantime, he would take the sheriff’s
advice and take a room in the town’s hotel.He really had no choice in the matter.

The hotel was down the main street, just in front of the restaurant
where Blue had stopped with Symphony.He started walking that way.The
night was quiet.Everything was closed,
except for the bar, from which loud sounds of music and laughter were
coming.Blue took a look at his
watch.It was far later than he had
first anticipated…No wonder almost
everything was closed.

As he walked down the street, Blue had the distinct impression he
was being watched.He looked around but
saw nobody.Yet, he was quite sure he
wasn’t mistaken.Years of training and
living on the edge had attuned his senses… He could sense impending danger
lurking about him.

He felt rather than saw the group behind him, and broke into a run.He heard rapid footsteps and glanced over
his shoulder.Three men were in
pursuit.No sense in calling, he thought.Since his misadventure of the day, he was pretty sure he wasn’t popular
with anyone in this place.The sheriff
would not be much help either.He would
probably find a way to pin this thing on him and throw him in a cell again.

Blue tried to make it to the bar.A public place would be the perfect hideout
in the circumstances.But then he saw
two other men coming from the shadows right next to the door and walking
quickly toward him.Blue changed
direction and went down a small street.

More like a dark alley, he realized, the instant he entered it.It was obvious he had purposely been pushed
that way.And with five men now hot on
his heels, he didn’t have much choice but to continue running in the same
direction.

He stopped suddenly.Just ahead
of him was a wall.A dead-end.Naturally.It was so obvious, he should have seen it
sooner.

Blue turned on his heel to face the five men who had stopped running and
were now approaching slowly, taking their time, knowing full well he was
trapped and couldn’t hide anywhere from them.He didn’t care who they were or what they wanted, although that last
question was very obvious to him.In
fact, for the present, he didn’t have the time to think it over… The only thing
on his mind was that he didn’t intend go down without a fight.

“Nice to see you again, kid.”

Blue froze on the spot upon hearing those words.He turned to his left to see the shadow of a
big man lurking in the dark.He didn’t
need to see his face to know who it was.

So, that answered the question about the identity of the person who had
prepared this ambush… Not that it was any surprise to Blue

He didn’t have the time to act
upon that discovery.He didn’t see
another shadow that came bolting from the other side of the street and
violently rammed into his back, sending him face down on the ground.The five men who had pursued Blue to that
spot then rushed up to him.Brutal
hands seized him and dragged him back to his feet.He struggled and succeeded in getting free of two of them; but
they were too many, and he already had been shaken by the first attack.His arms were seized and pulled tightly
back, and the Spectrum officer soon found himself defenceless against a series
of blows that began raining on him, catching him on all sides, dazing him.

He saw Grover coming slowly out of the shadows, limping on his bad right
leg, and coming toward him.The man
stopped at a safe distance and looked upon the scene.He quietly lit a cigarette and blew out some smoke with obvious
satisfaction.Blue saw the evil smile
crossing the older man’s face.

The scum is enjoying this tremendously…

It was about the last thing Blue was really conscious of before some
kind of a rag was clamped over his mouth and nose.A distasteful odour hit him and a mist came down over his eyes.He desperately fought to stay awake, but the
combined effect of the pain from the beating, and the chloroform, began to take
their toll on him.He mercifully passed
out just as his aggressors let him fall to the ground.